Television signal analyzer



Oct. 30, 1962 w. P. KRUSE TELEVISION SIGNAL ANALYZER I NH.\ a. fm.u v EL Fil m uE

N EL

WJM

United States Patent 3061,668 TELEVISI=ON SIGNAL ANALYZER William Paul Kurse, Quincy, Ill. assignor to Ga'tes Radio Company, Quincy, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 9, 1960, Sex. No. 54,963 8 Claims. (Cl. 178-6) This invention relates generally to television test eqnipment and in particularly to a method for analyzing the transrnitted television Video signal during normal program transmission.

In providing for transmission of Video television signals, it is generally necessary that a band Width be provided which has four megacycles on either side of the carrier. However, such an eight megacycle band width is undesirable because of the channel width required and it is therefore desirable that only one side band be transmitted. Difficulty has been encountered in completely rernoving the undesired side band and as a cornprornise arrangernent practically all of one side band is removed Thus leaving the remaining side band unaffected. This method is known as vestigial-side band transmission and is the approved method of television transmission at the present tirne. However, facilities have not been available to analyze or monitor the transmittted video signal during normal programming to determine the accuracy of the transrnitted signal.

Testing of video transrnitters has therefore been comfined to off-the-air periods because testing during normal prograrn transmission has presented many roblems which have not been easily overcorne. Testing of the video transmitter during ofI-the-air periods has the disadvantage of not giving a true indication of the operation of the transrnitter dnring actual programming. Monitoring of the video signal at the present time has been confined to an image reproduction on a cathode ray viewing tube connected to a video arnplifier stage.

Generally, poor frequency response of the video signal is manifested at the higher frequencies by lass fine detail in the cathode ray tobe of the television receiver. Fine detail is not easily visible and even if placed on the screen of the cathode ray tube of the television receiver, the fine detail would be lost to many observers cf the tube. Therefore, the optimum method for analyzing the frequcncy response of a transmitter is to analyze the transrnitter response during normal program transmission.

Thus, it is an object of the present inventiou to provide an improved system for displaying the video frequency response of a television transrnitter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a transmitted video television signal during normal program transmission.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system for dispflaying on an oscilloscope the variation of the RF spectrum of a television transmitter from the applied video spectrum during normal program transmission.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a sys- -tern including synchronous detector circuits and low pass filters which produce the RF spectrum of a television transmitter and the video spectrum of the input signal Which are cornbined in a difierential arnplifier and displayed on an oscilloscope to show errors in the vestigial sideband response of a video television transmitter.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a system including a double sideband modulator fed Wiih input video and an unmodulated carrier from a television transmitter to produce a wide band, double side band Signal which is compared With the transmitted signal frorn the television transrnitter in a difierential amplifier and 3,001668 Paiented Qct. 30, 1952 lce applied to an oscilloscope for displaying the vestigial sideband response.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a typical R.F. spectrum display;

FIG. 3 is a typical video spectrum display;

FIG. 4 is an oscilloscope display showing the video response of a transmitted television signal; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagrarn of another embodiment of the invention.

In practicing the invention, a systern for ana'lyzing and displaying the signal from a television transmitter is pro vided. An R.F. oscillator which sweeps equally above and below the television transrnitter carrier frequency is fed to a first synchronous detector. A sample of the video transmitter output also is fed to the first synchronous detector and the output of the detector is fed to a first low pass filter, the output of which is an R.F. spactrurn suitable for display. The sarne R.F. oscillator output is applied to the unrnodulated TV carrier in a balanced modulator to produce a video sweep. The video sweep and the input video are applied to a second synchronous detector and the output is fed to a second low pass filter having an output which produces a video spactrum snitable for display. The R.F. spectrurn and the Video spectrum are combined in a narrow band diflerential amplifier the ontput of which is fed to an oscilloscope which produces a disp'lay of the vestigial sideband frequency response during normal program transrnission. Intensity markers are applied to the oscilloscope for frequency reference. The oscilloscope may be blanked at frequencies where the video spectrum has insufficient amplitude so that improper display is not produced.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the video spectrum is produced by a double sideband modulator to which the input video and the unmodulated carrier are applied to produce a Wide band double sideband signal. This signal is mixed With the sweep from the R.F. oscillator in a second synchronous detector and fed through a low pass filter to provide the video spectrurn.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a block diagrarn of one embodirnent of the invention. A television vestigial sideband transmitter 10 of the type generally used is coupled to a load 12 which may be an antenna. A video sigma] frorn terminal 11 is applied to transmitter 10 to amplitnde modulate the carrier wave produced therein. A sample of the output from the transmitter is applied through lead 16 to synchronous detector 14. The output from R.F. sweep oscillator 18 Which has an equal sweep above and below the video transmitter frequency is also fed to synchronous detector 14. The output of synchronous detector 14 is fed to a low pass filter 20 which may rernove the R.F. components. The output of the low pass filter 20 produces an R.F. spectrurn at point 21 wbich is suitable for display.

The output of R.F. sweep oscillator 18 also is mixed with the unmodulated TV carrier from the transmitter 10, Which is derived from lead 24, in a balanced modulator 26 to produce a video sweep signal. The video sweep Signal and the Video input from terminal 11 are applied to a second synchronous detector 30, and the output is fed to a second low pass filter 32 which may remove the R.F. components. The output of filter 32 produces a Video spectrurn at point 33 which is suitable for display.

The R.F. spactrum and the video spectrum from points 21 and 33 are combined in the narrow band differential arnplifier 22. Diiferential arnplifier 22 should possess large dynamic balance range. The outpnt of arnplifier 22 may be fed to oscilloscope 34. Oscilloscope 34 prorg, '1) duces a display of the vestigizil sideband frequency response. When the output of tbe transmitter corresponds accurately to the Video input signal, the oscilloscope will sweep along the zero line. When there is a difierence, the display will show the region in which the error occurs. The display does not require special video test signals for operation. High resoluiion-widebandvideo signals frorn normal television programming may be used to provide tbe operation.

Since the usual television prograrn material does not always contain important Fourier components frorn zero to 4 megacycles, it may be desirable to blank tl1e seope trace during portions of the video spectrum having insufficient amplitude for reliable operation. The video spectrurn is applied to threshold blanker 38 which pro duces a voltage to blank those portions of the scope trace where the video speetrum falls below a predeterrnined value. In order to better identify the various frequency regions of tl1e response displayed on the scope, marker unit 36 is provided to produce frorn the video speetrum signals providing frequency reference 011 an oscilloscope 34.

FIG. 2 shows a typical RF. spectrum display signal which is taken from point 21 of FIG. 1. The amplitude modulated earrier wave was synehronously detected. The lines A are the Fourier series eornponents, the line B shows tbe outline cf the spectrum display (shown for illustrative purposes only), and marks C are the frequeney markers irom unit 36. FIG. 3 is a typical video spectrum display taken from point 33 of FIG. 1. The video signal was also synchronously detected. The lines D are the Fourier series cornjnonents, the line E sbows the entline of the spectrum display (shown for illustrative purposes only), and marks F are the frequeney markers from unit 36. If the television video transrnitter is operating properly, outline B showing the response of the television transrnitter, and outline E showing die response of tl1e video signal, sbould be identical Within the passband of the transmitter.

FIG. 4 shows the display on the oseilloscope 34 of FIG. 1 wherein the R.F. spectrum of FIG. 2 and the video spectrum of FIG. 3 are difierentially cornbined. Limes G are the Fourier series components and trace outline H shows the vestigial sideband response. Under optimurn conditions, the outline H Will sweep across the zero vertical position of the scope in the desired passband. Frequency markers I are applied to the oscilloscope 34 from marker unit 36 of FIG. 1 so that the particular frequncy of unfaithful reproduction of the video signal when modulated on the R.F. carrier wave may be noted. For example, if frequency reference marker I represents 1 mc., and a response G appears at tbis marker, this will indicate that improper modulatioil is occurring for Fourier components of 1 Ins.

FIG. 5 is a block diagrarn of an alternate embodiment of the invention. As in FIG. l, a television vestigial sideband transrnitter is coupled to a load 12 Which may be anantenna. A video signal from terrninal 11 is ap plie d to transmitter 10 to amplitude modulate the carrier wave produced therein. A sample of the transrnitter output is applied through lead 16 to synchronous detector 14. The output from R.F. sweep oseillator 13 is also fed to synchronous detector 14. The R.F. sweep oscillator 18 is of the same type as the R.F. sweep oscillator of FIG. 1. The output of synchronous detector 14 is fed to a low pass filter 20 which may remove the R.F. components. The output of the 10W pass filter 20 produces an R.F. spectrum at point 21 which is suitable for display.

A double sideband modulator 27 l1as applied thereto a signal from video input 11 and the unmodulated carrier signal from transmitter 1. The output of double sideband modulator 27 is a wideband double sideband signal which is applied to synchronous detector 39. The output frorn the R.F. sweep oseillator 18 is also applied to synchronous detector 30, the output of Whicl1 is applied to low pass filter 32 which rnay remove the R.F. corn ponents. The output of filter 32 produces a video spactrum Which is suitable for display.

The R.F. spectrum and the video spectrurn are combined in a narrow band differential amplifier 22 as in FIG. 1 and tbe output of differential arnplifier 22 may be fed to oscilloscope 34 Wbere a display of the vestigial sideband frequency response is produced. The operation of the scope 34 is the same as in FIG. 1 With the video speetrum being applied to threshold blanker 38 to blank portions of the scope trace wl1ere the video spectrum falls below a predetermined value. Marker 36 provides Signals from the video spectrum for frequency reference on seope 34.

Thus, the invention provides a simple and effective means for displaying and analyzing the frequency response of a television video transrnitter during normal programming. The invention may also provide a display of the video input signal spectrum or the R.F. spectrum of tbe transrnitter.

I claim: 1

1. A systern for monitoring the frequency response of a television video transmitter wherein a radio frequency carrier wave is amplitude modulated by a video signal producing a vestigial side band modulated wave during normal program transmission, said system ineluding in combination, first means providing a signal having components representing the frequeney spectrum of the video signal, second means providing a signal having components representing tl1e frequency speetrum of the modulated radio frequency carrier wave, and dilferential amplifier means coupled to said first means and to said second means for comparing the amplitude of the signal representing the frequency spectrum of the modulated radio frequency earrier wave with the arnplitude of the signal representing the frequency spectrurn of the video signal.

2. A system for monitoring the frequency response of a television video transmitter wherein a radio frequency carrier wave is amplitude modulated by a video signal producing a vestigial side band modulated wave during normal program transmission, said system inclnding in combination, first means providing, a first signal representing the frequeney spectrum of the video signal, second means coupled to said first means for providing a blanking voltage when the first signal falls below a predetermined value, third means providing a second signal representing the frequency spectrum of the modulated radio frequency carrier wave, differential amplifier means coupled to said first and tbird means for eomparing the first and second signals, and an oscilloscope coupled t0 said difierential amplifier means and to said second means for providing a display of the frequency response of the vestigial side band of said television video transmitter, said second means providing blanking the ortion of the display on said oscilloscope Where the frequency spectrum of the video signal falls below a predetermined value.

3. A systern for displaying the vestigial side band frequency response during normal program transmission of a television transmitter which produces a filtered carrier vyave and which amplitude modulates the same by a video srgnal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said system including in combination, sweep oseillator means, first synchronous detector means coupled to said oscillator means, means applying the modulated wave from the transmitter to said first synchronous .detector means whereby said detector means provides a signal representing the frequency speetrum of tl1e transrnitted wave, video spectrum means eoupled said sweep oscillator means ineluding modulator means and second synchronous detector means coupled thereto, means applying the unmodulated carrier wave from the television transmitter to said modulator means, means applying the video signal to said video spectrum means for producing a signal representing the frequency spectrum of the video Signal,

difierential amplifier means, means applying said signals representing the frequemy spectrums of the transmitted wave and of the video Signal to said diiferential amplifier means whereby said diflierential amplifier means provides a Signal representing variations of the transmitted wave from the video Signal and an oscilloscope coupled to said difierential amplifier means for displaying the vestigial side band response of the output of said television transmitter.

4. A System for displaying the vestigial side band frequency response during normal program transmission of a televisiom transmitter which produces a filtered car- Tier wave and which amplitude modulates the Same by a video signal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said System including in combination, sweep oscillator means, first synchronous detector means coupled to said oscillator means, means applying the modulated wave from the transmitter to said first synchronous detector means whereby said detector means provides a Signal representing the frequency spectrurn of the transmitted wave, video Spectrum means coupled to said sweep oscillator means including modnlator means and second synchronous detector means coupled thereto, blanking means coupled to said video spectrum means for providing a blanking voltage, means applying the unmodulated carrier wave from the television transmitter to said modulator means, means applying the video Signal to said video spectrum means for producing a Signal representing the frequency Spectnlm of the video Signal, difierential amplifier means, means applying said Signals representing the frequency spectrums of the transmitted wave and of the video Signal 1:0 said difierential amplifier means whereby said differential amplifier means provides a Signal reprsenting variations of the transmitted wave from the video signal, and an oscilloscope coupled to said diirerential amplifier means and to said blanking means for displaying the vestigial side band response of the output of said television transmitter, said blanking means causing portions of the display of said oscilloscope to be blanked where the frequency spectrum of the video signal iS below a predetermined value.

5. A System for displaying on display means the vestigial side band frequency response during normal progran1 transmission of a television transmitter Which produces a filtered carrier wave which amplitude modulates the Same by a video Signal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said System including in combination, sweep oscillator means, first synchronous detector means coupled 110 said oscillator means, means applying the modulated wave from the transmitter to said first synchronoug detector means whereby said detector means provides a signal representing the frequency spectrum of the transmitted wave, video spectrum means coupled to said sweep oscillator means including modulator means and second synchronous detector means coupled thereto, means applying the unmodulated carrier wave from the television transmitter to said modulator means, means applying the video Signal to said video spectrum means for producing a Signal representing the frequency spectrum of the video Signal, blanking means coupled to said video spectrum means for providing a blanking voltage for freqnencies at which the components of the video Signal falls below a predetermined value, marker means coupled to said second synchronous detector means for providing frequency references for the frequency spectrum of the video signal, diiferential amplifier means, means applying said signals repre =enting the frequency spectrums cf the transmitted wave and of the video Signal to said differential amplifier means whereby said differential amplifier means provides a Signal to the display means representing variations of the spectrum of the transmitted wave from the spectrum of the video Signal, said blanking means and said marker means being coupled to the display means for blanking the Same at frequencies at which the video Signal falls below a particular value and for providing frequency reference markers thereon.

6. A System for displaying the vestigial side band frequency response during normal program transmission of a television transrnitter which produces a filtered carrier wave and which amplitude modulates the Same by a video Signal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said System including in combination, sweep oscillator means providing a radio frequency signal, first synchronoug detector means coupled to said oscillator means, means applying the modulated wave from the transmitter to said firSt synchronous detector means whereby said detector means provides a Signal representing the frequency Spectrum of the transmitted wave, modulator means coupled to said sweep oscillator means, means applying the unmodulated carrier wave from the televisiou transrnitter to said modulator means to produce a video sweep signal, second synchronous detecto r means, means applyiug the video sweep Signal and the video Signal t-o said second synchrouous detector means for producing a Signal representing the frequency spectrum of the video signal, differential amplifier means, means applying said signals representing the frequency Spectrunos of the transmitted wave and of the video Signal to said diiferential amplifier means Whereby said differential arnplifier means provides a Signal representing variations cf the transmitted wave fr0m the video signal, and an oscilloscope coupled to said differential amplifier means for displaying the vestigial side band response of the output of said television transrnitter.

7. A System for displaying the vestigial side band frequency response during normal program transrnission of a television transmitter which produces a filtered carrier wave and which amplitude modulates the Same by a video Signal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said System including in combination, sweep oscillator means, first synchronous detector means coupled to said oscillator means, means applying the modulated wave from the transmitter to said first synchronous detector means whereby said detector means provides a Signal representing the frequency Spectrum of the transmitted wave, double side band modulator means, means applying the video Signal and the unmodulated carrier wave from the television transmitter to said modulator means to provide a double side band Signal, second synchronous detector means coupled to said sweep oscillator means and to said modulator means for producing a Signal representing the frequency spectrum of the video Signal, difierential amplifier means, means applying said Signals representing the frequency spectrums of the transmitted wave and of the video Signal to said difierential amplifier means Whereby said differential amplifier means provides a Signal representing variations of the transmitted wave from the video signal, and an oscilloscope coupled to said difierential amplifier means for displaying variations in the vastigial side band response of said television transmitter.

8. A System for displaying on display means the vestigial side band frequency response during normal program transmission of a television transrnitter which produces a filtered carrier wave and Which amplitude modulates the Same by a video Signal to provide a vestigial side band wave, said System including in combination, sweep oscillator means, first synchronous detector means coupled to said oscillator means, means applying the modulated waves frorn the transmitter to said first synchronous detector means whereby said detector means provides a Signal representing the frequency spectrum of the. transmitted wave, modulator means, means applying the unmodulated carrier wave from the television transmitter and the video Signal to said modulator means, second synchronous detector means coupled to said sweep oscillator means and to said modulator means for producing a signal representing the frequency spectrum of the video Signal, blanking means coupled to said second synchronous detector means for providing a blanking voltage when frequency components of the video Signal fall below a predetermined value, marker means coupled to Said second synchronons detector means for providing frequency xeference signals at various frequencies, differential arnplifier mear1 s, ineans applying said signals representing the frequency sjpectrums -0f the transmitted Wave and of the Video signal to said diiferential amplifier means whereby said difierential amplifier means provides a signal to the display means representing variations of the transmitted -wave from the video signal, said blanking means and said marker means being coupled to the display means for blanking the display at frequencies at which the video Signal component falls below a predetermined value and providing frequency reference means' for the frequency spectrum of the Video Signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lewis Apr. 18 Grace July 21, Schlesinger Juni: 19, Coate Feb. 19, Golden Inne 4, Brandt Oct. 1, Bartelink May 5, Downie Sept. 13, 

